THE Orange Order has been urged to do more to show its “disgust and repulsion” over a song mocking the murder of Michaela McAreavey.
As a mark of its sincerity, the order has also been encouraged to make a donation to the Kevin Bell Repatriation Trust, which brings home the remains of people who die abroad.
SDLP Newry and Armagh MLA Justin McNulty made the call days after footage emerged of a group of people singing a song mocking Ms McAreavey’s 2011 murder during a gathering at Dundonald Orange Hall.
It came as a number of additional business in Co Derry released statements about employees who were recognised on the video.
They included Kenny’s Convenience Stores, with shops in Coleraine, Magherafelt, Garvagh, Kilrea, Randalstown and Ballymena under the Spar brand, which said it has terminated the employment of a member of staff.
Mr McNulty, a former All-Ireland winner with Armagh, has known Michaela’s father, former Tyrone manager Mickey Harte, for years through their association with the GAA.
It is believed the shocking footage mocking the young woman’s murder was captured on the same day Orangemen gathered in Belfast for a parade to mark the centenary of the partition of Ireland in 1921.
Three men have since resigned from the Orange Order after they were identified in the clip, which was posted online.
The trio apologised for their involvement but also said they were being subjected to a “public witch hunt”.
The Grand Orange Lodge of Ireland has described the footage as “utterly abhorrent”.
Mr McNulty last night described the callous chant as “a vile sectarian song”.
“I welcome the outright condemnation of this disgusting and unfathomable incident voiced by the Orange Order,” he said.
“I do recognise that the vast majority of the Orange Order’s membership are decent people who have sympathy for the Harte and McAreavey families.”
However, he said the order must go further.
“There now has to be a recognisable admission of responsibility,” he said.
“The Orange Order must demonstrate the courage of their conviction and they must now show through deeds, not just words, that they are sincere in their expression of disgust and repulsion, and that they want to put it right.
“I am therefore calling on the Orange Order to make a voluntary contribution to the Kevin Bell Repatriation Trust.”
Mr McNulty said such a gesture would “serve to heal hurt and show ordinary people across our community that there is a generosity of spirit in the Orange Order which was not evident through that vile display last week”.
The Orange Order has been contacted.
